Widget Builder from WolframAlpha

Recently, WolframAlpha introduced widget builder for creating widgets to input queries and view the results. Developers can now build UI to make the WolframAlpha's powerful knowledge engine easily accessible.

My wife being a dentist gets little miffed when I spend most of my holiday in front of my computer. However, today she was pleasantly surprised when I showed her couple widgets which I created are related to her field.

Below widget link gives tooth information for the given number:



Below widget gives Tooth Classification details:




The widget builder has a simple wizard approach. Firstly, you need to sign-in or create a login account @ https://developer.wolframalpha.com/portal/signin.html

You would be redirected to the "QUERY TEMPLATE" screen. By default the widget is "Untitled Widget", you could edit and give appropriate name. Refer, the help texts provided under "Get Started" section. The next one is "WDIGET LAYOUT" screen when you could place the UI components with the drag and drop support. Here you have options to give Title, color themes etc for the widget. The next screen displays the output for the sample query. You could choose the type of output you want in the "WIDGET OUTPUT" screen. Finally, you could select how to display the widget like embedding as iFrame, Popup etc.

Before publishing the widget you have to describe the widget and you could also tag with some keywords. You could browse through the gallery section to find already created widgets:

http://developer.wolframalpha.com/widgets/gallery/featured/

Srikanth Ramu

Great Musical experience

The FIFA World Cup is over, but watching the games late in the night had left some traces. It is now 2:00 a.m and I am still awake and I am not complaining though. Its because I am listening to a few carnatic songs by students of Wesleyan University in a loop. I must admit that I am awestruck by their performance and lost count on the number of times I've replayed the songs. Before proceeding further, let me clarify that I am no expert in Carnatic music, however I am within my limits to appreciate a good music.

Splendid, marvelous, wonderful ... are some of the words I could instantaneously recollect to comment on the songs embedded below.





Firstly, the costumes of the students are the typical ones for a carnatic music concert and considering these dresses are not common in that part of the world. Secondly, on the format of the concert, like in any carnatic song, the lead singer starts with the alapana(i) i.e improvising the raga(m) (Sri Ragam in the first video and Ananda Bhairavi in the second) and aptly supported by mandolin/guitar. Finally, the song by all the students with perfect sync.

What amazed me was the pronunciation of Sanskrit words especially in the song Sri Kamalambike written by Muthuswami Dikshitar.

Truly a wonderful experience.

Srikanth Ramu

City Traffic Police Websites

Its good to see City Traffic police maintaining websites and whats surprising is the information they offer. Some of the city traffic police websites are listed below:

Delhi Traffic Police - http://www.delhitrafficpolice.nic.in/
Chennai Traffic Police - http://www.chennaitrafficpolice.in/
Mobile Traffic Police - http://www.trafficpolicemumbai.org/
Kolkata Traffic Police - http://www.kolkatatrafficpolice.org/
Bangalore Traffic Police - http://www.bangaloretrafficpolice.gov.in/
Hyderabad Traffic Police - http://www.htp.gov.in/
Chandigarh Traffic Police - http://www.chandigarhtrafficpolice.org/

Srikanth Ramu

April - June Tamil Events are added

I've updated April - June Tamil Events in my Tamil Calendar. Notable dates are:

April
14 Chithirai Thiruvizha, Tamil Varsha Perapu
28 Chithra Pournami

May
4 - Agni Nakshatram Begins
16 Akshya Tirthiya
28 - Agni Nakshtram Ends

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=tqsrpl0tvkmlt2bb89qmmp0408%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia/Calcutta

http://srikanthramu.com/tamil-calendar-events/

Srikanth Ramu

New born essentials/items

Its 3 months now, since Anirudh is born and I look back how I was prepared with the list of baby products for my new arrival. Thanks to my sister and friends for sharing the list of baby items. Parenting is so wonderful that and I am sure all expecting parent would enjoy shopping baby essentials. If you have a new born, then this baby checklist would be helpful. Btw, I've not used some of the items listed below but got to know from others:

1. Cloth diapers


2. Rubber/Plastic sheets - You would find a lot of varieties


3. Branded baby - Oil, soap, creams, shampoo, powder etc


4. Wet wipes


5. Baby Towels


6. Small Wash clothes/towels – to wipe baby’s mouth & saliva


7. Bibs


8. Cradle/Crib


9. Cradle bed and pillow


10. Baby Bath tub, bucket and mug


11. Alcohol swabs to clean the umbilical chord knot


12. Buds to clean umbilical cord after bath


13. Dresses for new born, 0-3 months


14. Blankets (smooth) to cover during sleep


15. Nail cutter – small


16. Baby head caps


17. Mittens (gloves) and socks for Baby – New Born size


18. Milk feeding Bottles – for travel in the later stage


19. Milk feeding bottles stand


20. Baby cotton balls to clean eyes during first few weeks etc.


21. Thermometer exclusively baby to check the temperature at Rectum


22. Diaper Bag to carry the diapers.


23. Crib toys


24. Thermos Flask

Srikanth Ramu

January 2010 Tamil Calendar events

Wish you all a very Happy New Year.

I've updated January 2010 Tamil calendar events at below given calendar link:

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=tqsrpl0tvkmlt2bb89qmmp0408%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Asia/Calcutta

http://srikanthramu.com/tamil-calendar-events/

Important dates in Jan 2010 are:

1. 1/Jan/2010 - Arudhra Dharisanam


2. 5/Jan/2010 - Sri Thyagarajar Aradhanai


3. 13/Jan/2010 - Bogi


4. 14/Jan/2010 - Pongal


5. 25/Jan/2010 - Thai Kirthigai


6. 30/Jan/2010 - Thai Poosam

Srikanth Ramu

Witnessed a miraculous escape, yet there is a lesson for all

It was Sunday evening and a crowded 5A bus was nearing Velachery MRTS over-bridge. I was conveniently seated in the first row, near the front glass having full view of the road. Most of my fellow passengers were returning from shopping at T Nagar, which was evident with those jute bags from various shops. Our bus was traveling at a mean speed near the road-divider/median paving way to other speeding vehicles from left side. There was nothing unusual about the journey until a pulsar  zipped past our bus. The bike caught our attention, as the guy who was riding it, was nervously negotiating with the bike to avoid colliding on the median.

As they say, you can’t stop the inevitable, it did happen and the bike hit the median and bore the brunt of the impact. The guy was thrown out to the other side of the median, only to find a bus traveling in the opposite direction over him. Luckily, the bus driver sensed the mishap and stopped the bus instantly. All of us were mute spectators and shockingly feared for the worst. But, it was not one of those worst days, the guy beneath the bus, hurriedly rolled himself out of the bus and was trying to find some solace at the pavement. He narrowly missed the wheels of the bus running over him, however he had some nasty injuries on his face and other parts of body, but I must say, he missed death by a whisker.

The guy seemed to be in his early 20s and I am sure he must have been shamelessly boosting his driving skills. I wonder what he would think of his abilities at high speed post this misadventure of kissing death. Had he maintained the speed limit, he would have controlled his bike and reached his destination safely. Although, in this case, he escaped the ultimate end, it’s a lesson for all - Speed thrills but Kills. So, drive safe with care and common sense.

Have a great year ahead.

Srikanth Ramu